Training Your Senses To Become A Better Driver
We looked at training you auditory sense in the last post.
In this post, it is all about the sense of balance and kinesthetic.
Most people believe there are only 5 senses. This is incorrect there are 6. The forgotten sense is our sense of balance.
Balance for a driver is essential. Here’s how to train it up:
Technique One For Training Balance and Kinesthetic Sense:
Loads of the top drivers are able to competently ride a unicycle. Being finely tuned into
the balance of keeping it up and learning to read how small changes can have big effects. Think
about how useful this is for driving a car, being able to notice all the small changes,
picking up on them and fixing them. You need to train yourself to have this
kind of awareness!
Mika Hakkinen on unicycle
You can pick up a unicycle here:
(These unicycles are fine for use for both kids and adults, big and small)
Now learn how to ride it and practice, practice, practice. Next time you are on the track pay attention and notice how you are able to gather information and feedback from your body more accurately.
Technique Two For Training Balance and Kinesthetic Sense:
Master the wobble board.
Live on the wobble board to train and heighten your sense of balance. Be constantly improving it. Stand on it while watching TV or for a real challenge stand on it while playing a video game (preferably a driving game!)
That’s it for now.
Let me know how you are going with the training of your senses.
robin (at) f1driverssecrets (dot) com
Keep Racing!
Robin
www.F1DriversSecrets.com
Related posts:
- How To Train For F1 (Part 2)
- Lewis Hamilton Was Trained Using This Very Technique. Learn it.
- Training For F1 Race
- How Lewis Hamilton Will Be Preparing For The Upcoming F1 Season.
- Training For Motorsport. Physical, Mind and Heikki
- Brain Integration Techniques For Massive Success!
- Formula 1 Reaction Times and Reaction Time Training (Motorsport)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been riding a unicycle (6ft high) all the years I have raced… and to make it better I juggle when I ride…
Hey Albert!
Do you encourage your drivers to do this as well as part of their training?
Robin,
I do, maybe not juggling and riding… First I have them learn to juggle, and then after they have that down I have them learn how to juggle as a team. I do the left and they do the right… learning to juggle with one hand working as team works great… Jugging is a great eye hand coordination exercises. When you juggle like this it’s called Siamese juggling… looks funny, but it builds team work and timing plus, eye hand coordination.
A tip on learning to ride a unicycle. Set on the unicycle learning the balance and coordination, now that your on the side of your truck and hold onto the truck start peddling down the side of the truck, one revolution at a time… when you can ride down the side of the truck holding on, you start to see how far you can make it passed the truck… First you make one revolution, then two, and so on, it’s slow but holding onto the truck helps get your balance and getting used to the bike under you butt… Learning to pick up the balls trying to juggle and get the timing, is a great way of learning how you see things and how you think you see and learning the timing of the balls in the air… Remember juggling three balls, only one ball is in the air, and waiting for the right time to toss the others… Timing, its all about the timing, in racing a car waiting for the right time to make a pass or when not to pass… as you said on this page learning to ride a unicycle is all about balance and understanding small moves can make a big change in what your doing at the time.